Earth moving device



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 13, 1940- E. w. AUSTIN EARTH MOVING DEVICE Filed June 2l, 1957 Y Feb. 13, 1940. K E, w AUS-HN Y 2,190,346

EARTH MOVING DEVICE Filed June'zl, 1957 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Feb. 13, 1940 'EARTH MOVING DEVICE Ellsworth W. Austin. Cedar Rapids, Iowa, ao-

signor to La Plant-Choate Manufacturing Co., Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a corporation of Dela- Application .runs zi, 1937, serai No. 149,460

9Ulaims.

One object of my invention is to provide al device for moving earth or the like, which device is comparatively simple and is also inexpensive from a manufacturing standpoint, yet secures a number of desirable results.

Another object is to provide anearth moving device including a blade or other earth handling element for engaging and moving earth upon movement of a tractor on which the blade is mounted, and to provide means for vertically adiusting the blade, said means being of hydraulic character and compactly arranged as well as being low mounted relative to the tractor and also mounted away from the front end thereof, so that, the operator has clear vision to readily observe the operation of the device for building roads and the like. f

Another object is to provide an earth moving device in which hydraulic jacks are used for controlling the main frame which supports the earth moving blade of the device. jack lever arms being arranged to increase the leverage advantage of the jacks in raising the main frame and blade, the jack lever armsbeing pivoted above the pivotal connections of the main frame to the tractor.

Still another object is to provide hydraulic mechanism for adjusting the -blade of an earth moving device, which includes horizontally arranged cylinders operatively connected through jack lever arms with the side frame elements of a U-shaped, blade supporting main trame.

A further kobject is to provide a hydraulic jack for each side of the U-shaped frame, the jacks being hydraulically connected lin series so that synchronous movement `thereof is insured whenever actuating fluid is pumped to or from the t jacks for raising or lowering the blade.

Still a further object is to provide a main frame, which is so constructed that it is rigid to impact but somewhat flexible upon torsional movement, so that a blade carried thereby may be eectively used to push earth or the like ahead of a tractor, yet the blade may be tipped laterally for changing the inclination of the road or other surface being operated upon by the device.

Another object is to provide the hydraulic jacks with suitable control valves for the actuating fluid for the jacks, so that relative movement between the jacks instead of synchronous movement can be secured, thus effecting a, twisting of the main frame and a resultant lateral tipping of the earth moving blade. f

Another object is to provide hydraulic mechanism for adjusting the blade Vor earth handling' element oi' an earth moving device which can be selectively and hydraulically locked against any tipping of the blade or hydraulically unlocked and the blade thereupon tipped by hydraulic means to the desired angle, the mechanism thereafter being capable of retaining said blade in the new angular position.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my earth moving device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is' a side elevation of an earth moving device embodying my invention, the device being mounted on a tractor and the blade being shown in lowered or ground engaging position.

Figure 2 is a partial, side elevation showing the mechanism adjusted for raised position of the blade, parts being broken away and other parts being shown in section to illustrate operative connections between parts of the device.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing a bracket for the hydraulic lifting mechanism of my device attached to the tractor frame.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the main frame and earth moving blade of my device.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the g line 5-5 of Figure 4, showing a part of the frame twisted as when the earth moving blade is adjustedl to a laterally tipped position (with the right-hand end of the blade lower).

Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the main frame which supports the blade, showing it twisted for tipping the blade also downwardly' at its righthand end.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic mechanism of my jack arrangement showing normal operation.

Figure 8 is a similar view showing the adjustment of the hydraulic mechanism for tipping the blade; and

Figure 9 is a view of the control valve of the l 2 e areasco conserve space on the drawings. The side frame elements thereof are indicated at I5. These are connected together at their forward end by a cross frame comprising angularly extending ele- 5 ments I 8 and a blade pivot bracket I1.

The rear ends of the side frame elements I5 are provided with pivot pin sleeves I8l (see Figure 4) Pivot pins I9 extend through the sleeves I8 and are supported by brackets 20. 'I'he bracklo ets 2U are secured as bybolts 2l to the track frames I of the tractor 'I'. One bracket 20 is provided for each side of the tractor and `for each side frame element I5.

A blade B for engaging and moving earth and is the like as the tractorl T moves forwardly is pivoted to the blade pivot bracket I1. The blade B has a pair of pivot brackets 22 for this purpose, which straddle the blade pivot bracket I1 and are pivotally connected thereto by a pivot pin N 23. 'I'he pivot pin 23 permits pivoting of the blade B, so that the earth will be deected either toward the right or toward the left or may be pushed straight ahead as in bull-dozing opera.- tions.

S The ends of the blade B are pushed by the side frame elements I5, push bars 24 being provided to serve as a thrust connection between the side frame elements and the blade. The push bars 24 are channel-shaped in cross section to partially 80 enclose the side frame elements I5. The push bars 24 are reinforced along their inner edges by flanges 25. Preferably runners 24a are provided to support the push bars relative to the ground surface and to prevent the blade B from 35 gouging into the ground, as the tractor moves forwardly.

Brackets 25 and 21 are mounted on the ends of the push bars 24 for connection to the side frame elements I 5 and blade B respectively. 'I'he 40 brackets 26 and 21 are secured to the push bars 24 preferably by welding.

The brackets 26 are connected with the side frame elements by removable pins 28, the side frame elements having a plurality of perforations 5 29, 30 and 3| to selectively receive them. The brackets 21 are connected to brackets 32 by pivot pins 33. The brackets 32 are welded to the blade B.

In Figure 4, the blade B is shown adjusted for s@ deecting the earth being moved toward the left.

For bull-dosing operations, the pins 28 are removed from the openings 29 and 3l wherein they are illustrated, and the blade B adjusted to a right angle with respect to the side frame ele- 55 ments I5 and the pins 28 are then placed in the perforations SIB.

Obviously for adjusting the blade for deecting the earth toward the right, the left side pin 28 is placed inthe perforations 3l of the left .o side frame element I5 and the right side pin 29 in the perforation 29 of the right side frame element I5.

Although ordinarily it is desirable to have the blade B level, there are occasions when it is deg5 sirable to tip the bladel laterally either with the right-hand end lower than the left-hand endor vice versa. For this purpose. frames for earth moving machines have heretofore been made of jointed character to permit of adjustment of the 70 side frame elements to positions out of alignment with each other to secure such tipping of the blade. I provide the diagonal members I6 of l such characters, however, that they can be twisted or are capable of torsional movement 1| while at the same time they are effectively rigid in all other directions, so that they will properly Y withstand any impact of the blade B with earth or other material being moved by the device.

To accomplish this purpose, the elements I6 are formed channel-shaped as shown in Figure 5 t and are reinforced by a main frame plate 34 which also serves as a guard for the front ofthe tractor and for an oil pump mounted thereon, which will hereinafter be described. lThe plate 34is welded to the front of the channel-shaped 10 elements IB so that the resultant formation is an -angular tube, its shape being illustrated as a rectangle.

The ends of the elements I6 converge, thus permitting greater torsional exibility, while atv 15 the same time maintaining suflicient rigidity for the purpose of earth moving operations. y

The pivot bracket I1 is reinforced by a heavy reinforcing bar 35 welded in position adjacent the lower edges of the elements I6 and plate 34. 20

Reinforcing tie plates 35y are provided at the ends wardly. This results in tipping the elements I6 so and the blade 34 as illustrated, the top of the left-hand element I6 and thev bottom of the right-hand element v I 6 showing slightly in Figure 6.

In Figure 5, center lines Ita and I1a are illus- 35 trated, which are the horizontal center lines for theframe element IB on the section line' 5-5 y and for the bracket I1 respectively. It will be noted that these two center lines cross each other and thereby indicate the differencev in 40 inclination of different parts of the element I6 when twisted for tipping the blade B.

For raising and lowering the blade B, I provide hydraulic jack mechanism which will now be described. The mounting brackets 20 are pro- 45 vided above the pivot pins I9 withjack lever arm pivot pins 31. Pivoted on these pins are triangular :lack lever arms 38. One corner of the arm 38 is pivoted to the pivot pin 31 while the other two corners are arranged above the pivot pin. ,mv

One of the other corners is provided with a pivot. 'f stud 39 with which a lifting link 40 is pivotally connected. A retainer disc 4I is secured in position by a pair o f cap screws or the like 42 to the pivot stud 39 and retains the lifting link 40 on 55 the rod.

The lifting links 40 are made of flat bar material reinforced by angle bars 43 welded thereto. The lower ends of the lifting links are pivoted on lifting arm pivot studs 44. The third corner 60 of each jack lever arm 38 has a piston rod jaw bolt 45 carried thereby.

A pair of supporting brackets S are mounted on the tractor frames I 0 and II. Each supporting bracket S comprises an outer plate 46 having o5 flanged edges for reinforcement and an inner l plate 41 (see Figure 3). The plates 4,6 and 4l` v are welded to an angle bracket 48 having a pivoting boss 49. A reinforcing bar 50 is welded in position to reinforce the plate 41 where it 70' l,

passes above the caterpillar track I4. y

Secured to the back of the plate 46 preferably by welding is a channel-shaped bracket spacer 5I. 'I'he bracket spacer 5I is secured to the track frame III by bolts 52, the platev 46 having en- 7s y l alsdan larged openings Il to permit of.access to Athe heads of the bolts. The plate 41 is secured 'to the traction frame Il by bolts 54.

To prevent excessive binding of the main frame` during earth deflectlng operations, and particularly when the main frame is being raised or lowered, I provide the main frame with rollers For the right-hand side of the tractor TJ a hydraunc Jack cylinder' u is provided with a pan- 7 at 55a, 58a and 58a respectively.

of pivot ears4 5B which are pivoted to the boss 49 of the supporting bracket S by` means of a cylinder pivot bolt 51. Within the cylinder Il is a piston 58 shown diagrammatically in Figure I and a piston rod 59 extends therefrom through a packing gland 60. The piston rod 59 on its outer end has a jaw 6| in which the piston rod `iaw bolt 45 is mounted.

On the left-hand side of the tractor T a similar jack is provided, and its cylinder',v piston and piston rod are shown diagrammatically in Figure Obviously a jack lever arm 3 8 is proyidedifor each side o! the tractor and also a supporting bracket S for each side thereof.

For controlling the movement of the pistons I and 58a 'relative to the cylinders 55 and 55a, I

i fluid. The control valve C is a four-way valve having an intake connection 64 from the outlet of the pump 53 and an outlet connection 55 discharging into the reservoir B2. A return pipe 55 supplies oil from the reservoir 52 to the pump i 63. A suitable relief valve shown diagrammatically at 61 serves the purpose of permitting the .pump 63 to continue to operate without building up excessive pressure when the control valve C is in closed position as shown in Figure 9, or in partially closed position, the valve 61 then merely permitting by-passing of the oil from the outlet to the inlet of the pump.

'I'he tipping control valveTC is also a four-way valve. Two of its connections are made ben tween one side of the control valve C and the forward end of the cylinder 55. These connections are illustrated at 68 and 69..

The opposite side of the control valve C is connected by a pipe line 10 to the rear end.V of the cylinder 55a. A connection 'll extends bewteen the forward end of the cylinder 55a and the rear end of the cylinder 55, thus hydraulically connecting the cylinders in series with each other.

The tipping control valve TC in its normal position shown in Figure '7 accomplishes no result.

In this position, it closes off communication between the auxiliary pipe lines 'l2 and 13 which extend from the tipping control valve TC to the i pipe line 'l0 and 1I respectively.

Practical operation In the operation of my earth moving device, normally the control valve C is in the neutral position of Figure 9 and the main frame and the blade B are maintained at approximately the position shown in Figure 1 with the runners 24aY thegroundsuriace. Asthetractor 'proceedaanyirregularitiesintheearthorotber matealontheroadbedwillbesmoothedout by the blade.

At times, it is desirable to either positively raise the blade to a higher pomtion or adjust it to a lower position. To raise the blade, the control valve C is adjusted to the full line podtion showninFigure'I. Thiswillpermittheoil pumped by the pump 43 to follow the path of the 'heavy arrows and the solid line light arrows as follows:

Oil from the outletpf the pump 6J passes through the connection 64, lower lett side of the valve C and connection 'I0 to the rear end of the cylinder 55a. This moves the piston 58a forward as shown by a solid line arrow adjacent the piston rod 59a. 'Ihe oil in the front part of the cylinder 55ay is thereby displaced through the connection 1I to move the piston 58 also in a forward direction and in absolute synchronism with the piston 58a. To insure such synchro.- nism, the cross sectional area of the cylinder 55a, of course, must be the same cross sectional area as the cylinder 55 minus the area of the piston rod 59.

Forward movement of the piston 58 displaces oil ahead of it in the cylinder 55 through the connection 59 and the tipping control valve TC which is normally in the position shown in Figure '1. From the tipping control valve TC, the oil passes through passageways B8 and 65 to the reservoir 62, the upper right side of the control valve Cpermitting of such passage.

When it is desired to lower the blade B, the valve C is turned a quarter turn to the dotted line position shown in Figure 7, which reverses the flow of oil in the system as shown by the dotted line arrows, the oil, however, still flowing in the direction o f the heavy solid line arrows.

The degree of opening of the valve C from the Figure 9 positioned toward either the full or detted line positions of Figure 7, will, of course, regulate the speed of raising or lowering, any excess oil pumped 'by the pump 63 when such speed is low, being by-passed through the relief valve 61, which serves as a safety device against building up excess pressure in the system.

When the desired raised or lowered position of the blade has been secured, the control valve C may then be returned to its neutral position shown in Figure 9, thus preventing any further iiow of oil in the hydraulic system. In this position, a by-pass passageway through thecore of the valve permits free now of the oil through the valve without accomplishing any movement of the jacks.

If it is desired to raise the right-hand side of the blade B and lower the left-hand side thereof, the tipping control valve TC is adjusted to the position shown in Figure 8. Thereupon the control valve C is moved to the full line position of Figure 8 to cause the oil pumped through the connection 64 by the pump 53 to iiow into the rear end of the cylinder 55a and also through the connection 12, lower right' side of the tipping control valve TC and connection 59 to the front end of the cylinder 55. This causes movement of the piston 58 forwardly for lowering thev left side of the main frame and the piston 58 to move rearwardly lfor raising the right side of the frame.

The oil in the front of the cylinder 55a, the connecting passageway H and the rear end of the cylinder 55 is displaced by the movement of the pistons 53 and 58a in opposite directions. The displaced oil flows through the connection 13. upper left side of the tipping control valve TC and connections 68 and 65 back to the reservoir.

If it is desired to tip the blade in the opposite direction (the position of the frame then being as shown in Figure 6) the control valve C isadjusted to the dotted position shown in Figure 8. Thereupon the oil will flow as shown by the dotted arrows.

Oil from the connection 64 then ows through the connections 68 and 13 to supply extra oil to the front end of the cylinder 55a and the rear end of the cylinder 55, thus moving the pistons 58a and 58 in the directions of the dotted arrows shown adjacent their piston lrods 59a. and 59. The oil in the rear end of the cylinder 55a displaced by this operation then flows directly into the connection l0, while the displaced oil from the front end of the cylinder 55 flows to the connection 10 through connections 69 and 'i2 respectively, such oil being returned to the reservoir 62.

Thus while I have provided a series connection between the hydraulic jacks to secure synchronous movement thereof in the samedirection, I am also able to secure a non-synchronous movement thereof, which permits of movement ofthe sides of the main frame in opposite directions for tilting the blade laterally as desired. After the desired degree of tilt has been secured, the blade may be locked in its new position by merely returning the valve TC to the locked position of Figure 7.

When the blade is tipped laterally, the exibility of the diagonal connecting arms i5 of the main frame permits of such tipping without excessive strains on the parts `of the blade supporting frame. However, when the blade is in operation, the frame effectively resists any impact and is inexible in a forward thrusting direction,

thus providing a rigid connection between theL earth moving blade and the tractor.

During the raising andi lowering operations,`

the hydraulic jacks remain substantially horizontal, and due to the operative connection thereof with the main frame do not at any time securing the necessary leverage for raising the` main frame when desired.

Some changes may be made in the arrangement and construction of the yvarious parts of my earth moving machine, without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my clai'ms, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with an earth moving device having a main frame including a pair of side frame elements pivotally connected to a tractor and a blade carried thereby for engaging and moving earth; of means for raising said blade comprising an upright jack lever arm pivoted to said tractor at a point adjacent the pivotal connection of the side frame element thereto, said arm having a connection for the side frame element, said connection being located forwardly and upwardly from the lever arm pivot, a lifting link between said connection and the side frame element at a point spaced forwardly from the pivotal connection of the element and the Jack lever arm to the tractor, a hydraulic Jack for each jack lever arm, a supporting bracket for each hydraulic jack and located forwardly of the Jack lever arm, said hydraulic jack being interposed between said supporting bracket and said Jack lever arm and arranged in a substantially j horizontal plane to swing the jack lever arm rearwardly and result in upward lifting of said main frame and said blade.

2. In an earth moving device, a main frame including a side frame element for each side ofthe tractor and pivotally connected thereto, an

earth engaging element carried by said main frame for engaging and moving earth upon movement oi' the tractor and means for raising ysaid earth engaging element comprising a jackl lever arm foreach side frame element, said jack lever arm being pivotally mounted on a pivot arranged adjacent the pivotal connection of said side frame element to said tractor, said jack lever arm having an upright lever extending `upwardly from said pivot and a second lever extending upwardly.v and forwardly therefrom, a lifting link connecthorizontal plane to exert rearward push on the jack lever arm to result in upward lifting of said main frame and earth engaging element.

3. In an earth moving device, a U-shaped frame pivotally connected to a tractor and extending forwardly from the pivot, a blade carried by said frame in front of the tractor for.

engaging and kmoving earth upon forward movement of the tractor and means for raising said blade comprising a pair of jack lever arms for said U-shaped frame, said jack lever arms having upright levers and forwardly inclined levers and 'L being pivoted to the tractor at a point above and adjacent thepivotal connection of said frame to said tractor, lifting link connections between said U-shaped frame and the forwardly inclined levers of said jack lever arms, a hydraulic jack for eachv upright lever thereof and a stationary supporting bracket for each hydraulic jack, said hydraulic jacks being connected with said supporting brackets and said upright levers, exerting rearward movement on said upright levers and arranged in a substantially horizontal plane. 4. In an earth moving device, a main frame including a side frame element, means for pivotally and moving earth upon movement of the tractor,

and means for raising said blade comprising a triangular-shaped jack arm, a pivotal mounting therefor adjacent one corner thereof, said pivotal mounting being adjacent the pivoted end of the frame the other two corners of said jack arm being located above the pivotal connection, a link mounting between one of said other two corners and said side frame element forwardly of the pivotal connection of the side frame element to the tractor, a supporting bracket secured to said tractor and a hydraulic jack including a cylinder and a piston rod connected with said supporting bracket and the other corner of said two corners of said jack arm. 5. An earth moving device of the character described, comprising a frame including a side frame element pivotally connected to a tractor, a blade carried by said frame for engaging and moving earth or the like, and means for raising said blade comprising a triangular shaped jack arm, a pivotal mounting therefor adjacent one corner thereof, the pivotal mounting being immediately adjacent and above the pivotal connection of said side frame element to said tractor, the other two corners of said triangular-shaped jack arm being located above the pivotal mounting of the arm, a link connection between one of said two corners and said side frame element, a supporting bracket secured to the tractor, and a hydraulic jack including a horizontally arranged cylinder and a piston rod, said cylinder and rod being connected with said supporting bracket and the other of said two corners of said jack arm.

6. In an earth moving device, a pair of side frame elements pivotally connected at their rear ends with a tractor, integrally related forwardly extending converging frame elements connecting said side frame elements together, a blade carried by said converging frame elements. said converging frame elements being enlarged intermediate their ends, converging toward their ends and rectangular in cross section and thereby capable of torsional movement whereby to permit tipping said blade laterally, means to effect movement of said side frame elements simultaneously to raise or lower said blade without tripping it, and additional means to effect movement of said side frame elements independent of each other forlaterally tipping said blade.

7. The combination with an earth moving device having a main frame comprising a pair of side frame elements pivotally connected to a tractor and connected together for torsional movement and an earth handling element carried by saidv-A main frame for adjustment to a lateral tipped lposition upon torsional movement being imparted to said main frame; of a pair of oil operated jacks, one connected to each side frame element, means for directly connecting said jacks in series with each other to insure synchronous vmovement thereof in the same direction and a controller to effect torsional movement of said main frame comprising a four way valve operable to reverse the flow of oil in one jack by by-passing it between the direct series connection between the jacks and one end of one of said jacks.

8. The combination with an earth moving device having a main frame comprising a pair of side frame elements pivotally connected to a tractor and connected together for torsional movement and an earth handling element carried by said main frame for adjustment to a lateral tipped position upon torsional movement being imparted to said main frame; of a pair of oil operated jacks, one connected to each side frame element, a direct connecting pipe from the front of one jack to the back of the other toA effect simultaneous flow of 'oil in the same direction in both jacks, an oil supply pipe and a vreturn pipe connected with the back of 'said one jack and the front of said other jack respectively, and a four way valve connection between said direct connecting pipe, supply pipe and return pipe to effect reverse iiow of oil in one of said jacks relative to the other.

9. .In an earth moving device, a main frame including a side frame element and a bracket for each side frame element, each side frame element being pivotally mounted on its respective bracket, an earth engaging element carried by 'said main frame for engaging and moving earth upon movement of the tractor and means for raising said earth moving element comprising a jack lever arm for each of said brackets and side frame element, said jack lever arm being pivoted to its bracket at a point adjacent the pivotal connection of said side frame element thereto, having a lever upstanding from the bracket and having a forwardly inclined lever, a lifting link connecting said forwardly inclined lever to a side frame at a point spaced ahead of the pivotal connection of the side frame to the bracket, a hydraulic jack for said upright lever and a supporting bracket for said hydraulic jack, said supporting bracket being located ahead of said jack lever arm, said hydraulic jack being interposed between said supporting `bracket an( said supporting lever and arranged in a substantially horizontal plane to exert rearward push on the jack lever arm to result in upward lift of said link and said side frame element.

ELLSWORTH W. AUSTIN. 

